Albanian police fire rubber bullets as student protests enter fifth day

Police in Albania fired rubber bullets at protesters on Saturday during the fifth day of student demonstrations demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama step down, escalating clashes that have engulfed central Tirana. Reuters footage showed police shooting a shotgun toward crowds outside the education ministry, with rubber pellets found on the ground and hitting two journalists and several protesters. Police chief Skender Hita confirmed limited use of all means, while seven officers were suspended for exceeding authority. The protests stem from anger over corruption, unemployment, and poor education, drawing support from summer demonstrations against a Kushner-backed coastal resort. Rama, who won a fourth term last year, refused to step down, while 1,067 people have been arrested and 388 criminally prosecuted.